United States A-Cat Association (USACA)

Team California packed up and ready to go home. Extra thanks to Bill and Skip for driving the boats!



Left to right: John Simpkins, Mike Egan, Andy Kolb, Bill Erkelens, Jay Glaser, Pease Glaser, Skip Elliott, Jeremy Laundergan, Davi Ottenheimer
Not pictured: Pete Melvin, Bruce Edwards, Steve Hansen, Ian Storer

Morning winds were from the north (offshore) and at the upper range of class rules (22 knts). The sailors held a quick skippers meeting and decided to postpone until noon and wait for moderation. About twenty of the more than fifty competitors said they would definitely brave the conditions.

The races started on time in small chop and 15-20. Only seventeen boats decided to participate (including all four boats from Santa Cruz, California) out of the fifty-six registered for the event. Some competitors had already packed and left by the time racing began. Fortunately, even with the risk of high winds there were no major accidents, although Mike Egan was forced to retire after being fouled during a start sequence. The winds did moderate a little towards 3pm and, in all, five races were held.

Again, Lars Guck dominated the fleet and took the 1st place prize. Pete Melvin took second and Woody Cope third, with Roberto Casadei fourth. Since Lars and Pete are already qualified, Woody is the next US sailor to qualify for November 2007 Worlds.

Draft results:

Sail Helm             Nat  R1   R2   R3  R4  R5 TOTAL Rank
232 Lars Guck         USA  (1)   1    1   1   1   4    1st
69  Pete Melvin       USA   2    2    2  (3)  2   8    2nd
209 Woody Cope        USA  (9)   4    3   2   4  13    3rd
1   Roberto Casadei   ITA   4   (7)   4   4   3  15    4th
4   Chimio de Freitas BRA   3    3   (6)  5   6  17    5th
230 Bob Hodges        USA   6   (8)   5   6   8  25    6th
199 Davi Ottenheimer  USA (11)   9   10   7   5  31    7th
204 Dave Penfield     USA   5    6   11 (14) 10  32    8th
195 Ian Storer        USA (13)   5    9   8  13  35    9th
150 Andy Kolb         USA (12)  12    7   9  12  40   10th
200 Jim Godbey        USA  10  (13)  12  11   7  40   11th
134 Mark Bellermann   USA (16)  11    8  10  11  40   12th
169 Ward Cromwell     USA (14)  10   13  13   9  45   13th
236 Matt McDonald     USA   8   14  (15) 12  15  49   14th
2   Roger Wright      BRA (17)  15   14  16  14  59   15th
184 Michael Egan      USA   7 (DNC) DNC DNC DNC  61   16th
198 John Vincze       USA  15  (16)  16  15  16  62   17th

To cap off the week of racing Bob Webbon delivered free pizza at the final awards ceremony.

Differing styles of "downwind" sailing at Islamorada, Florida, January 22nd, 2007:



Left to right:
170 Clive Mayo
199 Davi Ottenheimer
169 Ward Cromwell
22 Kristian Mattsson

Photo by Tony Arends

The first race of the A-Cat Midwinters (which immediately followed the A-Class Coconut Grove Classic) is being postponed due to inclement weather. A large cold front is approaching and the races have been postponed ashore. A-Cat sailors have tied down the boats and are waiting for the front to move through Islamorada Key. The forecast is calling for gusty 15-20 knot winds moving from the Northwest to Northeast from the through Friday.

Heavy weather warnings this morning, so the competitors are working on their boats, securing them, and watching the storm clouds roll in...





By 3pm the heavy downpour, high winds and limited visibility finally gave way to clearer skies. The PRO gave warning for a 4pm start, but only a half hour later winds in the area near the reefs were reported at around 30 kts (the class max is 22 kts) and even when winds were recorded by the RC in the 15 kts range they noted quick gusts of 20 kts or higher. With only a couple hours of daylight left, and unpredictable and building offshore breezes that could easily send a sailor in distress out into dangerous waters, the decision was made to postpone again and get an early start Friday.

Lars Guck again finishes well ahead of the fleet, sailing a custom Nacra A3 with Glaser sail and Hall spar:



Photo by Tony Arends

Results are final as of 8:31 on January 25, 2007

Islander Resort, Islamorada, Florida

Sailed:6, Discards:1, To count:5, Entries:56

    
Sail  Helm               Nat  R1  R2  R3  R4  R5  R6 TOTAL Rank
---------------------------------------------------------------
232   Lars Guck          USA   1   1   1  -2   1   1    5   1st
69    Pete Melvin        USA   7   4   3   1  -9   5   20   2nd
22    Kristian Mattsson  SWE   3   5   4 OCS   3   7   22   3rd
27    Eric Andersson     SWE   6   3   2  -7   7   6   24   4th
209   Woody Cope         USA   9   9   5   4 -14   3   30   5th
2     Teo DiBattista     ITA   5   6 -17  13   8   2   34   6th
235   Bob Webbon         USA   4   8 -21  11   4   9   36   7th
956   Thomas Persson     SWE   8   2   6 -18  11  10   37   8th
1     Goran Marstrom     SWE  12  12 -23   9   6   4   43   9th
230   Bob Hodges         USA  DNS 11   9   6  10  13   49   10th
102   Steve Hansen       USA  10   7   7  17  12 OCS   53   11th
200   Jim Godbey         USA  17  10  10   8  22 -25   67   12th
123   Skip Elliott       USA  18  13  16  10 -20  11   68   13th
213   Ian Lindahl        USA  13  16  13 -31  17  14   73   14th
150   Andy Kolb          USA  11  17   8 -38  26  17   79   15th
180   Jay Glaser         USA  20 -35  15  16  13  18   82   16th
99    Ben Hall           USA   2 DNF DNC  12   5   8   84   17th
195   Ian Storer         USA -25  20  11  14  18  21   84   18th
240   Pease Glaser       USA  28  18  29   5  15 DNC   95   19th
199   Davi Ottenheimer   USA  21 -28  14  24  16  26  101   20th
11    Malin              SWE  30  23  12  22  19 DNF  106   21st
79    Jeremy Laundergan  USA  19  26  26  23 -29  12  106   22nd
205   Mike Gruber        USA DNF  24  24  25  25  16  114   23rd
135   Tracy Oliver       USA  23  30  22  20 -35  23  118   24th
122   John Schiefer      USA  24  19  20  32  24 DNF  119   25th
170   Clive Mayo         USA  16  14  19 -36  36  35  120   26th
231   Rush Bird          USA  15  15  30 -34  32  31  123   27th
169   Ward Cromwell      USA -31  21  18  28  28  30  125   28th
121   Carla Schiefer     USA  33  25  27  21 -42  22  128   29th
236   Matt McDonald      USA  27  32  28  27 -43  15  129   30th
204   Dave Penfield      USA  29  33 -38  15  38  20  135   31st
184   Michael Egan       USA  14 DNC DNC  19  23  27  140   32nd
147   Jennifer Lindsay   USA  32  29  25 DNF  30  24  140   33rd
3065  Peter Block        USA DNS  27  31  35  31  19  143   34th
134   Mark Bellermann    USA  22  22 DNF  26  27 DNF  154   35th
3     Martin Hamilton    USA -41  31 RDG  30  39  29  154   36th
1     Roberto Casadei    ITA DNF DNC DNC   3   2 OCS  176   37th
212   Kevin Grice        USA  34  40  33  29  47 DNC  183   38th
137   John Simpkins      USA  36  41  37 -43  33  38  185   39th
227   David Nees         USA  37  38  35  41 -46  34  185   40th
198   John Vincze        USA  39  36  34  40 -41  39  188   41st
22    Leandro Spina      USA  40 DNF DNC  39  21  32  189   42nd
214   Bill Erkelens      USA  38  34 DNC  37  44  37  190   43rd
194   Tim Llewellyn      USA  26  37 DNC OCS  40  33  193   44th
172   Chris Cordes       USA DNF DNF DNC  33  34  28  209   45th
51    Fred Smith         CAN  43  43  40  45 -51  41  212   46th
841   Patrick Burger     AUS  42  42  39  48 -50  42  213   47th
823   David Taylor       AUS  35  39  32 DNC DNC DNC  220   48th
30    Andrew Burdett     USA  44  44  41 DNF  52  45  226   49th
154   Gordon Isco        USA DNF DNC DNC  46  37  36  233   50th
160   Steve Levine       USA  45 DNF  42  49  53  46  235   51st
223   Mark Skeels        USA DNC DNC DNC  42  45  40  241   52nd
179   Sterling Mehring   USA DNC DNF DNC  44  48  44  250   53rd
108   Bob Orr            USA DNC DNF DNF  47  49  43  253   54th
799   Tom Siders         USA DNC DNC DNC DNF DNC DNC  285   55th
215   George Saunders    USA DNF DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC  285   55th
================================================================
DNC Did not come to the starting area (57)
DNF Did not finish the race (57) 
DNS Did not start the race (57)
DSQ Was disqualified (57)
RDG Redress Given - Points set by protest hearing
  - Race 3, 25 set for USA3 Martin Hamilton

Hot breaking news on A-Cat design from Islamorada, Florida!

This "A Cat Ketch" design showed up in wraps on Tuesday. Hard to say for sure what is going on with the platform, but even with the covers on it is pretty clear that Jeremy Laundergan has some new designs up his sleeve. Inside sources report this will use two 75 sq/ft sails to stay class legal. However, it is not clear how the weight of the main mast will keep things down to 165 lbs, especially as wood tends to be quite heavy (unless that's also new camoflage treatment to hide its true material).

Photo by Harriet Ottenheimer.

Current and past Coconut Grove Classic winners (laft to right) Bob Hodges, 2007 winner Lars Guck and four time winner Ben Hall. Former winner Phil Kinder was unable to attend this year



Awards dinner at the Islamorada Fish Company



And our committee boat photographer Vaness Hamilton from the A-Cat fleet in Houston Texas

The second day of racing for the Coconut Grove Classic after a day off due to no wind in Islamorada Florida had great conditions and a big fleet. Here are a few of the photos highlights taken by Houston fleet member Vaness Hamilton from the committee boat (thanks Vaness!).

The morning started without wind and racing was postponed. By 11am a steady southeasterly filled in and the boats were off again. There were two general recalls as the first race started in light breeze. On the third attempt the I flag went up (round-the-ends rule) and no further general recalls were called for the day.



The wind gradually filled in so that by the third race hulls were flying in puffy 10-15, with small confused wind waves. Pete Melvin won the first race of the day, but Lars Guck took line honors in the other two establishing a dominant first place finish overall.

At the end of the day the sailors all were invited to retire to an informal awards ceremony and a Prix Fixe menu (US$20 for a Cheese Burger, Chicken Salad, Fried Shrimp, or Fish Sandwich) at the Islamorada Fish Company. Tables were set right along the water with nice views of the bay side and sunset. The Fish Company's regular menu is viewable online here.

Here are the complete results, as recorded by the race committee, for Monday, January 22, in Islamorada, Florida:

 
Sailed:3, Discards:0, To count:3, Entries:55
----------------------------------------------------
Sail  Helm               Nat  R1  R2  R3 Total  Rank
232   Lars Guck          USA   1   1   1    3    1st
27    Eric Andersson     SWE   6   3   2   11    2nd
22    Kristian Mattsson  SWE   3   5   4   12    3rd
69    Pete Melvin        USA   7   4   3   14    4th
956   Thomas Persson     SWE   8   2   6   16    5th
209   Woody Cope         USA   9   9   5   23    6th
102   Steve Hansen       USA  10   7   7   24    7th
2     Teo DiBattista     ITA   5   6  17   28    8th
235   Bob Webbon         USA   4   8  21   33    9th
150   Andy Kolb          USA  11  17   8   36   10th
200   Jim Godbey         USA  17  10  10   37   11th
213   Ian Lindahl        USA  13  16  13   42   12th
1     Goran Marstrom     SWE  12  12  23   47   13th
123   Skip Elliott       USA  18  13  16   47   14th
170   Clive Mayo         USA  16  14  19   49   15th
195   Ian Storer         USA  25  20  11   56   16th
231   Rush Bird          USA  15  15  30   60   17th
199   Davi Ottenheimer   USA  21  28  14   63   18th
122   John Schiefer      USA  24  19  20   63   19th
12    Malin              SWE  30  23  12   65   20th
180   Jay Glaser         USA  20  35  15   70   21st
169   Ward Cromwell      USA  31  21  18   70   22nd
79    Jeremy Laundergan  USA  19  26  26   71   23rd
240   Pease Glaser       USA  28  18  29   75   24th
135   Tracy Oliver       USA  23  30  22   75   25th
230   Bob Hodges         USA DNS  11   9   76   26th
121   Carla Schiefer     USA  33  25  27   85   27th
147   Jennifer Lindsay   USA  32  29  25   86   28th
236   Matt McDonald      USA  27  32  28   87   29th
3     Martin Hamilton    USA  41  31 RDG   97   30th
134   Mark Bellermann    USA  22  22 DSQ  100   31st
204   Dave Penfield      USA  29  33  38  100   32nd
205   Mike Gruber        USA DNF  24  24  104   33rd
823   David Taylor       AUS  35  39  32  106   34th
212   Kevin Grice        USA  34  40  33  107   35th
198   John Vincze        USA  39  36  34  109   36th
227   David Nees         USA  37  38  35  110   37th
99    Ben Hall           USA   2 DNF DNC  114   38th
3065  Peter Block        USA DNS  27  31  114   39th
137   John Simpkins      USA  36  41  37  114   40th
194   Tim Llewellyn      USA  26  37 DNC  119   41st
841   Patrick Burger     AUS  42  42  39  123   42nd
184   Michael Egan       USA  14 DNC DNC  126   43rd
51    Fred Smith         CAN  43  43  40  126   44th
214   Bill Erkelens      USA  38  34 DNC  128   45th
30    Andrew Burdett     USA  44  44  41  129   46th
160   Steve Levine       USA  45 DNF  42  143   47th
22    Leandro Spina      USA  40 DNF DNC  152   48th
179   Sterling Mehring   USA DNC DNF DNC  168   49th
172   Chris Cordes       USA DNF DNF DNC  168   49th
154   Gordon Isco        USA DNF DNC DNC  168   49th
215   George Saunders    USA DNF DNC DNC  168   49th
1     Roberto Casadei    ITA DNF DNC DNC  168   49th
223   Mark Skeels        USA DNC DNC DNC  168   49th
108   Bob Orr            USA DNC DNF DNF  168   49th
----------------------------------------------------
DNC Did not come to the starting area (56)
DNF Did not finish the race (56) 
DNS Did not start the race (56)
DSQ Was disqualified (56)
RDG Redress Given - Points set by protest hearing
  - Race 3, 25 set for USA3 Martin Hamilton 

The wind forecast for today is 0 ("Light and variable winds..."). The water is currently glassy calm, unlike yesterday's steady onshore breeze.

A skipper's meeting was held at 8:30am and the racers all agreed to take a lay day today and resume sailing tomorrow, Wednesday. Time to hit the pool...



...and to meet the locals, like this big guy:

The day started with a welcome to competitors from six countries who are participating in the largest A-Class Catamaran event in the Northern Hemisphere. Bob Webbon also warned about jellyfish and the hazards of sailing in the Atlantic Ocean..."Miami is to the north and to the south...you're headed to Cuba."

The wind was onshore again and more from the southeast at 10-15. The seas were flat close to the shore, but lumpy and confused further out.

Lars Guck moved ahead of the fleet by a wide margin with three straight bullets (three points). The next closest competitor was Eric Andersson from Sweden with eleven total points.

At least a couple competitors had incidents involving jellyfish (or siphonophores), and unfortunately Mike Egan had to retire early from the effects of a portuguese man-o-war that had wrapped itself around his ankle.

We'll probably all be wearing full suits tomorrow.

Current top ten out of fifty-eight boats:

                               
                                 01/22          
POS Sail    First    Last        R1  R2  R3  Total
 1  USA232  LARS     GUCK        1   1   1      3
 2  SWE 27  ERIC     ANDERSSON   6   3   2     11  
 3  SWE 22  KRISTIAN MATTSSON    3   5   4     12
 4  USA 69  PETE     MELVIN      7   4   3     14
 5  SWE956  THOMAS   PERSSON     8   2   6     16
 6  USA209  WOODY    COPE        9   9   5     23
 7  USA102  STEVE    HANSEN     10   7   7     24
 8  USA  2  TEO      DIBATTISTA  5   6  17     28 
 9  USA235  BOB      WEBBON      4   8  21     33
10  USA150  ANDY     KOLB       11  17   8     36

The first day of racing for the Coconut Grove Classic in Islamorada Florida had perfect conditions with 10-15 knot winds. Here are a few of the photos highlights taken by Houston fleet member Vaness Hamilton from the committee boat (thanks Vaness!) and start photo by Tony Arends (thanks Tony!)

And a couple of Lars Guck who is currently in the lead

Boats continue to arrive and get tucked among the trees:



Grassy spots seem favored, and are getting full:



Friends help friends deal with an onshore breeze in ankle-deep water off a rocky shore:



Here are some early action shots from Jeremy Laundergan: